The Dream Maker

source: The Dream Maker

Tommy Steele tries his best but is overwhelmed by poor material,forgettable songs and outdated routines. Most of the musical acts are long forgotten and he would make far better films.

A time-capsule of the oft-overlooked era between Rock 'N' Roll and the Beatles, this film was wall-to-wall talent. While most film records of this era were little more than a string of videos (although filmed - "videos" have been around since the advent of synchronised sound - in the '40s, they were called "soundies") tied loosely by a plot, usually involving a young couple on the loose in a TV studio (they look through a door and the girl says, "Ooh look - there's Freddie Cannon!" - cut to video of "Palisades Park") this one had a BUDGET. Best bits - the production number between Tommy Steele and Marion Ryan (even though she WAS too old for him at the time) - how come they never released that as a single? - and one of the few film appearances of the legendary (and devilishly handsome) John Barry and Russ Conway.

With the Beatles taking over Britain in 1963 it's hard to imagine just what the makers of this film were trying to do, is it just a twee sentimental story of Tommy the orphan, is a love story or is it a pop movie?, if it's the latter then the film falls apart after the first reel, grade c acts such as Shane Fenton who as the above writer states went on to become a superstar in the 70s as Alvin Stardust is the only saving grace in this movie for me, it is incredibly dated even for 1963 when this type of film was well on the way out and teenagers just did'nt want to dig squares like the movie recording artists are, I have a feeling this was made possibly a couple of years earlier as it had no say on what was going on in 63 at all. A fairly dire film with some toe curling songs, avoid at all cost unless you like this sort of garbage.